The first namaz-e-janaza of former finance minister and Awami League advisory council member AMA Muhith, who died in the early hours of Saturday, was held at Gulshan Azad Mosque in Dhaka in the morning.
The namaz-e-janaza was held around 10:45am. His body will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at noon so that people from all walks of life can pay their final respects. His body will subsequently be taken to Sylhet for burial.
Muhith, an economist, diplomat, freedom fighter and language movement veteran, passed away at a Dhaka hospital at 12:56am, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, his brother, told UNB.
Former finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith Mahmud Hossain OpuOn July 25, 2021, Muhith tested positive for Covid-19 but recovered. In March this year, he was hospitalized as he had become too weak.
Condolences
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the demise of Muhith.
In her condolence message, the prime minister said despite being a member of the Civil Service of Pakistan, Muhith joined the first government of Bangladesh in 1971. At the time, he was posted at the Pakistan Embassy in the US.
“A successful economist and politician, this Independent Award winner will be remembered by all for his works,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The prime minister prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Foreign Minister Momen also expressed deep shock at the death of his brother.
In a separate message, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam also expressed deep shock and sorrow at the demise of Muhith.
Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also expressed profound shock at the demise of the veteran Awami League politician.
FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin, too, expressed deep shock and sorrow at the demise of Muhith.
In a condolence message, the FBCCI chief said the nation will remember him for his unparalleled contribution to the economic development of Bangladesh.
He prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed his deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family members.
His works
Muhith, as the finance minister of the Awami League government, presented the budget in parliament for 10 years at a stretch.
It was during his tenure that the size of the budget expanded.
On January 6, 2009, Muhith took oath as the finance minister of Bangladesh. He retired from politics in 2018.
Muhith was born on 25 January, 1934 in Dhopadighi, Sylhet.
He was the third child of advocate Abu Ahmad Abdul Hafiz, who was a leader of the Pakistan movement and founder of then-Sylhet District Muslim League.
His mother Syed Shahar Banu Chowdhury was also active in politics and social work.
Muhith had been a recognized figure in the World Bank, IMF, IDB, ADB and different organizations of the United Nations for quite a long period.
He secured first place in the intermediate examination in the province in 1951 from Sylhet MC College.
Muhith stood first in BA in English literature in 1954 at Dhaka University and passed his MA with credit from the same university in 1955.
During his service period, he studied at Oxford University from 1957-58 and also received an MPA degree from Harvard University in 1964.
After joining Pakistan Civil Service in 1956, he served in different capacities in the government of East Pakistan, central government of Pakistan, and then Bangladesh.
During his service as the chief and deputy secretary of the Pakistan Planning Commission, he made a report on the disparity between East and West Pakistan in 1966, and that was the first report submitted on that issue in the Pakistan National Assembly in fulfilment of the constitutional obligation.
Muhith was the first diplomat of the Washington embassy of Pakistan who transferred his allegiance to Bangladesh in June during the Liberation War of 1971.
He was appointed as the secretary of planning in January 1972 and secretary of the External Resources Division of the Finance and Planning Ministry in May 1977.
Muhith went for early retirement in 1981 from his service and started the second chapter of his career as a consultant on economic and development matters to the Ford Foundation, IFAD, UN, UNDP, ADB and World Bank.
He was the finance and planning minister from March 1982 to December 1983.
Muhith was a pioneer of the Bangladesh Environment Movement and was also the founder and president of BAPA, established in 2000.
He joined the Awami League in 2001 and was elected a member of parliament in 2009 from his home constituency of Sylhet.
Muhith was awarded the highest civilian award — Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award) in 2016 for his contribution to the Liberation War and devoted record of public service.
He was equally gifted as a writer and published 35 books on different subjects, including the Liberation War, economic development, history, public administration and political problems.
